Suffolk cop union leader hints he'd sit out targeted Leg. race

The top official of Suffolk’s politically potent police union says he is likely to sit out Democratic efforts to unseat freshman Legis. Kevin McCaffrey, the Republican caucus leader.

“Given the work we have done together to date, I don’t see myself going against McCaffrey,” Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association president Noel DiGerolamo said last week.

Democrats are grooming Steve Bellone aide Tim Sini, a former federal prosecutor, to challenge McCaffrey, a former Lindenhurst deputy mayor, who embarrassed Democrats by winning a major upset in the 14th District, where Bellone lives.

McCaffrey, who also heads Teamster Local 707, last week declined to comment on DiGerolamo’s stance.

Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said he respected DiGerolamo’s decision as a union leader, but added, “if Tim is the candidate he will have an excellent chance in what I expect will be the most hotly contested legislative race in the county.”

Two years ago the PBA backed Democratic candidate Tom Dolan, but Schaffer said he could not recall how much the union spent on the race.